“And might I suggest that given the freedom you have, you go after exactly what you want,” Derek added.
Adam squeezed his eyes shut for a moment. “If only I knew what that was.”
Derek took another hefty drink. “Oh, I think you know.”
Adam drew a ring on the side of his mug with his finger. “Really? I wish you’d tell me then.”
“I don’t need to tell you. Lucy told me. Something about a printing press? And Miss Harcourt?”
Adam’s eyes went wide. “How the devil—” Lucy, that busybody, seemed to know everything.
“Lucy has been telling all her friends about Miss Harcourt’s novel. They’re eager to purchase their own copies. Lucy says it’ll be a sensation based on word of mouth alone.”
Adam couldn’t stop his smile. “Now, that I believe, if Lucy’s involved, but—”
“Look,” Derek continued. “I know you don’t want to accept the money I settled on you.”
“I don’t—” Adam began.
Derek put up a hand to stop him. “Wait. Hear me out. I know it wounds your pride to think of accepting it. But consider this. The money would just be sitting in a bank doing nothing. You might as well take it and do something worthwhile with it. Besides, you could save three lives in the process.”
Adam’s gut churned. He could use the money, but there was no way in hell he was going to accept charity from his brother.
“If it makes you feel any better,” Derek continued, “you can pay me back the initial investment when you’re ready.”
Adam’s head snapped up. “Pay you back?”
“It’s only a suggestion. Don’t get your back up.”
“No, no.” Adam lifted his mug and set it down again with a thud. “I like that idea. I like it quite a lot.” He silently contemplated the matter for a moment. “I would insist upon paying you interest, however.”
Derek snorted. “Damn it, you stubborn ass. I’m not taking interest from you.”
“Yes, you are, or I won’t accept it.”
Derek shook his head. “I know Lucy will have my hide if I refuse you, but we’ll discuss it more later.” Derek finished his ale, stood, and pushed his chair aside. “I’ll see you back at the house?”
Adam nodded. The possibilities of using the money and paying it back raced through his mind. He could barely think straight. Damn it. The last three weeks had been hell. As hard as he’d tried, he’d been unable to get Cecelia out of his thoughts. One thing she’d said in the coach that last day haunted him. “I wanted to be with someone I cared about,” she’d said. Could that possibly mean that she didn’t care about this Percy, whoever he was? Adam had to at least try to find out.
His brother hadn’t been gone more than five minutes before he, too, stood and hurried to the door, where he collected his hat. First, he needed an appointment … with Mr. Cornwall.
CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE
The carriage jostled to a halt in front of the Harcourt town house on Downing Square. Adam barely allowed it to make a complete stop. Not waiting for the footman, he threw down the stairs and jumped to the dirt road, then sprinted up to the front door, his breath coming in rapid pants. After yesterday’s revelation at the Curious Goat, this morning he’d signed a contract with Mr. Cornwall to be his partner in a new printing venture. Adam would put up the money for riskier stories, stories like Cece’s, and his sister-in-law was going to be the head of sales, though she might not know it yet. Now it was time to tell Cecelia.
His insistent knock was answered not by a butler or any servant but by Mary Harcourt. “Mary, it’s good to see you. Where is your sister?” he asked in a rush.
Mary’s face was pale, and she looked as if she’d been crying. “Oh, Mr. Hunt. She’s at the church getting married to Cousin Percy.”
“Cousin Percy?” Adam felt the blood drain from his face.
Mary nodded. “Yes.”
“Today?”
“Yes. They only want her dowry of course, but after she couldn’t sell her book she had little choice. She’s doing it for me, Mr. Hunt. She’s never said so, but I know she is. I needed medicine and—” The little girl broke off into another round of sobs and a coughing fit.
“Didn’t you receive the medicine I sent?”
Mary looked abashed. “Aunt Selene refused it. She said we weren’t about to accept charity from the likes of a … haughty duke and his brother.”
Adam wanted to wring Aunt Selene’s neck but instead he reached out and patted the girl’s shoulder. He pulled a handkerchief from his pocket and gave it to her. He’d deal with Aunt Selene later. “What church is it? And when?”